1. Laysan Albatross

The Laysan Albatross is listed as vulnerable to extinction. It breeds in the Hawaiian Archipelago and Mexico at Guadalupe Island, San Benedicto Island and Clarion Island. Albatross select mates through an elaborate dance of 25 poses. Pairs usually mate for life and both parents work to raise their single chick each year. Where present on breeding islands, non-native species are the primary threat to the Laysan Albatross. IC contributed to the conservation of the Laysan Albatross by implementing a protection project around the Punta Sur albatross colony on Guadalupe Island.

2. Guadalupe Junco

The Guadalupe Junco is an endemic species whose range has been restricted by habitat destruction inflicted by feral goats. In the 1900s, its range was much more extensive and its breeding habitat was more broadly distributed. Scientists believe only 50-100 adult birds now survive due to the threat of non-native species. Conservación de Islas and Island Conservation have removed feral goats on Guadalupe, protecting this critically endangered species by allowing the habitat the opportunity to recover.

3. Island Hazardia

Island Hazardia is native to Guadalupe Island off the coast of Baja California and San Clemente Island, one of the Channel Islands of California. This endangered species is a rare shrub in the daisy family that has been threatened by feral goats. Feral goats on San Clemente and Guadalupe devoured the species, pushing it to the brink of extinction. When goats were removed from both islands, Island Hazardia began to flourish. The plant is steadily recovering in the absence of this destructive predator and we expect its population to continue increasing.

4. Guadalupe Pine

The Guadalupe Island Pine is one of 34 endemic plant species on Guadalupe. It is a subspecies of the Monterey Pine and is important genetically due to its high wood density, growth form, and stronger resistance to weather and disease. The pine was abundant on the island until feral goats were introduced; they consumed seedlings, preventing regeneration. Conservación de Islas, Island Conservation, the Mexican Navy, the Mexican Environmental Ministry, and the local community have removed feral goats. Since then, 10,000 pine seedlings have established.

5. Guadalupe Palm

The endemic Guadalupe Palm grows to be about 30-35 ft. The palm produces large clusters of edible, date-like fruits. Before goats were introduced, there were thousands of palms on the island, but after the introduction of goats, few new palm seedlings survived and the species plummeted. In collaboration with other groups, Conservación de Islas and Island Conservation participated in removing feral goats from the island, allowing the palm a chance to recover.

6. Black-vented Shearwater

The Black-vented Shearwater is endemic to the Pacific coast of North America. About 95% of the species total population breeds on Natividad Island. The island is also home to a community of 400 fishermen and their families. Feral cats were a huge threat to Natividads Black-vented Shearwater colony, responsible for an estimated 923 shearwater mortalities per month. Island Conservation implemented an ecosystem restoration program on Natividad, with support from the local community, which has reduced shearwater mortality significantly.

7. Guadalupe Cypress

The cypress grows to about 65 ft tall and 2 ft in diameter, with grayish-brown outer bark that sloughs off in sheets to reveal a reddish inner bark. Roughly 4,000 cypress trees were estimated to be on Guadalupe, but that number was reduced to less than 100 when feral goats roamed the island. The drastic decline in trees severely altered the islands hydrology, leaving only one natural spring remaining. The island became void of vegetation by the 1990s, causing the extinction of four species of birds. In 2007, goats were removed, protecting this endemic species of trees from extinction.

8. Anacapa Deer Mouse

The Anacapa Deer Mouse is one of the largest subspecies of the deer mouse. It is an omnivore who nests in hollow trees, stumps, and woodpiles. Until recently, the Anacapa Deer Mouse was threatened by the non-native Black Rat on Anacapa Island. The rats competed with mice for food and directly preyed on them. Island Conservation worked with the National Park Service and other conservation groups to remove invasive rats. Since then, the ecosystem of Anacapa Island has been recovering spectacularly.

9. Xantus Murrelet

The Xantus' Murrelet lays two large eggs in rock caves or crevices. On Anacapa Island, the young spend 1-2 days in the nest before leaving by scrambling down 325 ft cliffs. They follow their parents to sea to learn how to dive for food. In 2004, murrelets were listed as threatened by the California Fish and Game Commission.The American Trader Trustee Council sponsored a program to restore seabird breeding habitat on Anacapa Island by removing the Black Rat. The Xantus Murrelet population has recovered tremendously.

10. Brown Booby

Brown Boobies are found on the Atlantic Ocean, Indian Ocean, Pacific Ocean, Caribbean Sea, Red Sea, and seas north of Australia. Their breeding sites have been reduced by invasive species and habitat destruction. The Brown Booby is highly susceptible to invasive species because they nest on the ground in open areas. San Pedro Martir once hosted one of the largest Brown Booby colonies in the world, but invasive rats destroyed the population. Conservación de Islas and Island Conservation removed rats on San Pedro Martir, helping to create ideal breeding habitat.

1. We are losing the earth’s biodiversity . . .

at an alarming rate. Data from birds, our best studied group, show that ancient extinction rates were about 1 species in every 100 years. This is just about the rate at which new species evolve. However, recent extinction rates are about 1 species every year. Data on endangered birds predict that future rates will be about 10 species per year if we don't act to protect them.

2. Islands are important for conservation…

because they are biodiverse and threatened. Islands make up only about 3% of the earth's land area but host about 20% of all species and 50% of endangered species -- such as this San Nicolas Island Fox found only on San Nicolas Island, California.

San Nicolas Island Fox on San Nicolas Island, California.

3. Islands are critical for marine ecosystems . . .

and species such as seabirds, pinnipeds (like these Hawaiian Monk Seals) and sea turtles. These marine species forage over thousands of kilometers of ocean and often play a significant role in regulating marine systems. However, they are highly dependent on small islands for breeding.

Hawaiian Monk Seals

4. Most extinctions happen on islands . . .

not in rainforests or the oceans. About 95% of all know bird extinctions, 90% of reptile extinctions, and more than half of all plant and mammal extinctions have been island species. When we include freshwater fishes and mollusks, well over half of all recorded extinctions have been on islands. This Laysan Rail went extinct due to invasive rabbits.

Extinct Laysan Rail on Laysan Island, USA

5. Critically endangered species . . .

such as this Waved Albatross in the Galapagos, are found on islands. About 45% of all critically endangered species are island species.

Waved Albatross Photo by: Eleanor Bircetti

6. Invasive species are the primary threat . . .

to island species. Invasive species are responsible for 55-67% of island animal extinctions globally. This Extinct in the Wild Pinzon Giant Tortoise was unable to breed in the wild for 150 years due to invasive rats.

7. Islands are a conservation opportunity . . .

because, once invasive species are removed, island ecosystems can recover. On Guadalupe Island, Mexico there are 34 plants found nowhere else on earth -- almost all them endangered because feral goats have decimated the landscape. The top of the island was once covered with forest, but by 1948, the forest was down to only 1% of its former extent. We first put up fences to exclude goats from certain areas and the results were dramatic.

Vegetation inside and outside a fence that excluded goats on Guadalupe Island

8. With support from the local community . . .

we removed the goats entirely from the island. The results have been dramatic. We now have 10,000 pine seedlings, 120,000 cypress seedlings, and 770 seedlings of the island's endemic palm. Additionally, we have rediscovered 6 species thought to be extinct.

Guadalupe Junco with pine seedling

9. Preventing Extinctions

We focus on islands where biodiversity is concentrated and the rate of extinction is high. To date, Island Conservation has deployed scientists to 52 islands worldwide to protect 994 populations of 389 native species, such as this Endangered Allen's Cay Rock Iguana on Allen's Cay, Bahamas.